PHOX IN CONCERT:
Watching indie pop rockers Phox perform live you get the overwhelming sense that they're not just bandmates -- they're family. The six musicians are longtime friends from high school and their undeniable chemistry and camaraderie create a warm, inviting atmosphere whenever they're on stage. Leading their mellow musical arrangements is singer Monica Martin, whose smoky voice sounds like a cross between Feist and Regina Spektor. The band employs a mix of instruments in concert, including guitar, banjo, clarinet, bass, and flute that blend seamlessly with Martin's soaring voice on crowd favorites like "Slow Motion" and "1936". The group lets loose with bursts of whistling, hand clapping, and plenty of jokes between songs, giving ticket buyers a wonderfully blissful live experience.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Indie folk pop collective Phox is comprised of guitarist Matt Holmen, bassist J. Sean Krunnfusz, singer Monica Martin, drummer Dave Roberts, keyboardist Matteo Roberts, and guitarist/banjo player Zach Johnston. The six musicians attended the same high school in Baraboo, WI, but went their separate ways after graduation. Eventually they reunited and moved into a house in Madison, where they spent two years writing and recording music influenced by artists like Feist, Sufjan Stevens, and James Blake. Thanks to well-received local shows and online buzz around their high-quality homemade music videos the band's popularity grew tremendously, and soon they were performing at South by Southwest, Lollapalooza, and London's iTunes Festival. In 2014 they penned a deal with Brooklyn-based indie label Partisan Records and released their self-titled debut album. Boasting production by Brian Joseph -- whose credits include Bon Iver and The Fray -- the collection of soulful folk pop songs earned them legions of fans and made them a must-see live act.
